Iraqi authorities counted votes on Monday, a day after 38 people killed during the election day. Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's State of Law list claimed it was on course for victory in Baghdad and the south, a claim that could not be verified.

"The State of Law Coalition list is leading among other lists in Baghdad and other southern provinces," Ali al-Dabbagh, government spokesman and State of Law candidate, said, according to Reuters. On its part, the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council (ISCI) said the vote appeared evenly split between Maliki and the Iraqi National Alliance (INA) in early counting.

Former Prime Minister Iyad Allawi's list was running third, ISCI said on its website.

There was no overall turnout figure, but election officials said it was 61 percent in the sprawling Sunni province of Anbar and 70 percent in Kirkuk.